Free and easy

The 22nd District Agricultural Association, which runs the Del Mar Fair, has been kind to local politicians, giving them free passes to various events, according to state disclosure forms. Del Mar city councilman Mark Filanc got two tickets worth $45 each to last summer’s Melissa Etheridge concert, as did his council colleague Carl Hilliard and Encinitas mayor Maggie Houlihan. GOP state senator Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield got two $35 tickets to see David Archuleta. Buck Martin, director of recreation for the City of Chula Vista, got four of the same.

Meanwhile, over at the Port of San Diego, the tickets rewarded had higher values, such as two worth $1500 each to last February’s Buick Invitational golf tournament, courtesy of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. The port gave them to then–chief operations officer Christine Anderson and commissioner Robert “Rocky” Spane.

Ten $170 tickets to the Red Bull Air Races, provided by the San Diego Sports Commission, were distributed. Recipients including Allegis Development, Continental Maritime, Monarch School, and the San Diego Port Tenants Association. Tickets to the air races worth $270 went to Terramar Retail Centers of Carlsbad, which owns Seaport Village and has been trying unsuccessfully to develop the old police headquarters on Harbor Drive, both on port leases.